Pentax 645 600mm f/5.6 or Pentax 67 600mm f/4

[pentaxitin]

Hello friends,

I wish to buy one of the two lenses mentioned from one of the friends who is more of a collector of items than a photographer who uses the items. I will be using the lens on a Pentax 645Z.

Both cannot be/ will not be used handheld. So I will be using them with Wemberley WH-200 gimbal head on a Kaiser Tiltall TC-284 tripod.

Photography subjects of interest would be wildlife in habitat and birds at rest or moving slowly. Of course I would continue to try animals in action and birds in gentle flight but without much expectation of success.

The 67 lens is 6 kg but half the price of the 645 lens which weighs approx 3 kg.

Please advise on pros and cons considering that both would be used on the gymbal head so portability is equally sacrificed, but there could be other practical issues like quality, resolution, contrast, aberration etc (and the 67 though fast is a vintage lens while the 645 is a star lens). What would you recommend in case price is not a factor?

I would be thankful for early reply if you can as the guy is eager to sell and I am eager to buy.

Regards.

[Joe Towner]

Neither - get the Sony A7r4 & Sony 200-600mm.  It's longer, faster, and will have some sort of resale in a year or two.  Plus it's longer due to no crop factor.

I love medium format, but at that focal length, even with support you are still manually focusing, and neither lens is really designed for digital. With the Sony you're getting 10fps with AF.  Unless you're really good with long lens technique you'll spend more time hunting for the subject where with the zoom you start at 200mm & quickly get to the framing you want.

[pentaxitin]

I really do not want to invest in a new camera system. I am happy shooting animals and birds in habitat. I don't need the 10fps of Sony. I actually enjoy the process of photography itself, and don't concentrate only on the end results. This approach does reduce the number of keepers, but I am ok with it. I enjoy the "slow photography" necessitated by the medium format. Besides, the results are incomparable to anything else (as long as you get them of course) 😅

[pentaxitin]

Got a few details on these vintage monster lenses. Looks like the 645 lens with its ED glass would surpass the 67 lens particularly in respect of control of chromatic aberration. It is also lighter and perhaps sharper.

I intend buying the 645 600mm f/5.6 lens.

[tsjanik]

……………….I intend buying the 645 600mm f/5.6 lens.

Good choice, you won't be disappointed, although minimizing vibrations will require some care.

[pentaxitin]

Thank you @tsjanik